Mirror and method of framing the same



June 30, 1931. s, HAMMER 1,812,403

*MIRROR AND METHOD OF FRAMING THE rSAME Filed Jan. 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ,fdmzzcl Mir/frz v1 /M ATTORN Y June 30, 1931. s. HAMMER MIRROR AND METHOD OF FRAMING THE SAME 2 sheets-sneer 2 f Ro@ wmf d J W /M ATTORN Y Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL HAMMER. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED METAL BOX C0.

' INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION kDI? NEW YORK MIRROR AND METHOD OF FRAMING THE SAME l Application led January 23, 1930. Serial No. 422,779.

This invention relates to mirrors and a method of framing the same, and has for its general object and purpose to provide a very simple and inexpensive means and method of providing the mirror lass with a marginal metallic .frame where y an adequate and substantial support for the heavy glass is obtained, While at the same time, liability of chipping, cracking or breaking the glass incident to vibrato-ry shocks or jars in the handling or shipment of such mirrors, is largely obviated or reduced to a minimum.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide a one piece marginal frame for the mirror glass which is of such construction that the mirror, together with a resiliently eompressible v and expansible backing sheet may be readily mounted in said frame. I also provide a simple means for easilv and quickly fixing the parts of the mirror rame in definitely established relation to each other and to the edges of the mirror glass, and said backing material expanding to yieldingly press'the ed es of the glass against inwardly extending ront flanges of the frame.

It is also a particular object of my invention to provide a framed mirror of t at t pe which is adapted to be utilized and app ied as a hinged door for a medicine cabinet or other analogous structure and wherein the mirror frame consists of a continuous channel shaped sheet metal strip, the ends of which are brought together in abutting contact at the lower edge of the mirror glass and rigidly connected with each other by a part embracing said frame ends and having a conveniently located finger-engaging flange, whereby the door may be readily unlatched and swung to its open position.

It is a furthe-r general object of my invention to provid-e a verTv simple and attractive mirror Jframe, together with an improved method of mounting or framing the mirror which will enable articles of this kind to be manufactured on a quantity production basis, at considerably less cost than is possible .in the case of mirror structures and production methods as now known in the art.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the improved mirror and method of framing the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have disclosed one simple and practical embodiment of m present invention, and in which similar reilerence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure l is a front face view partly in section, illustrating the manner of assembling the mirror glass andparts associated therewith within the one piece channel shaped frame strip;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3'is a front elevation partly in seel tion showing the several parts as finally assembled and secured in permanently fixed `relation to each other within the marginal frame;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4 4 of Fin'. 3;

Fic'. 5 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View illustrating the combined ornamental connecting member between the ends of the frame strip and finger piece or lug.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and for the present more particularly to Fig. l thereof, 5 generally indicates the ornamental frame within which the mirror glass and backing parts associated therewith are adapted to be mounted. In the preferred embodiment ofl my invention, this frame strip is formed from a single length of sheet steel of the requisite gauge which is bent into channel shape form in cross section to provide front and rear ianges 6 and 7 respectively, connected by the base wall 8 of the channel. This channel shaped metal strip is transversely bent at suitable points so that when the ends of the strip are brought together in abutting Acontact and secured against separation, there will be provided in effect a continuous frame of a predetermined ornamental eoniiguration with the frame width than the rear flanges 7 thereof. Also,

as will be observed from reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings in this embodiment o f the invention, the o posits longitudinal side poartions of the e 6 are slightly bent or curved inwardly from end to end thereof in the'normal condition of said frame and lbefore the ends of the frame strip are joined to each other.

The mirror glass shown at 9, in its outhne shape or contour corresponds to the shape of the frame 5. Upon the rear side of the mirror glass, a sheet of corrugated cardboard or other acking material as shown at 10 is adapted to be superimposed, the dimensions of said packing sheet substantially corre nding to the dimensions of the mirror. pon this packing sheet, the backi 11 of thin sheet steel is then pla said steel sheet being of somewhat greater Adimensions than the compressible packing sheet 10 and the mirror 9 so` that the marginal edges of the backing plate project beyond the edes of the mirror and the packing sheet 10. y any suitable means pressure is applied in opposite directions against the mirror 9 and the backing plate 11 to compress the corrugated sheet 10 therebetween. While maintaining the packing sheet under such compression, the upper end of the mirror, to-

gether with the parts associated therewith isv then into the channels of the opposite side portions of the frame 5. This engagement of the parts within said channels may be readily made by spreading the yieldable side portions of the frame outwardly away from each other. With the frame in its normal form, .the width of the backing plate 11 is substantially ual throughout the len thereof to the nce between the base walls 8 of the frame channels at one end of the frame. Thus, as noted, it is necessary to spread these opposite side portions of the' frame slightly in order that the end of the mirror and the assembled backing parts may be inserted between the opposite side portions of the frame at the a proximate center thereof. These assemble parts with the packing sheet 10 held under compression are then moved longitudinally of the frame within the side channels until the upper ends' v of said parts are positioned within the to channel of the frame. When so positione the lower ends of the side ortions 'of the frame 5 will extend outwa A y in divergent relation to the side ed es of the mirror, somewhat as indicated in ig. 1 of .the drawings. These ends of the side parts of/ the frame are then pressed inwardl so that the backing late 11 will extend throughout its lo tuinal side edges in contact with the ase plate walls 8 of the side portions of themartginal frame. Thus, these side portions o the frame will then extend along straight parallel lines at op osite ed es of the mirror glass and will be p aced un er a certain tension'.

Preferabl a long bottom or lower end section 12 of t e frame stri extends inwardly from one of the vertica side parts of the frame and a comparatively short section 13` extending substantially at right angles to one edge thereof and terminating in an inwardly projecting llon 'tudinal lip 17 At the opposite edge of t e part 15, the metal is folded upon itself to Aprovide the angularly projecting'iinger engaging flange 18 which is centrally formed with a relatively narrow offset tongue 19 terminating in an inwardly Eojecting lip 20. The part 15 of said memr adjacent each end thereof is provided with a screw receiving opening indicated at 21. The base walls 8 of the bottom sections 12 and 13 of the mirror fra-me, adjacent their free ends are each provided with a threaded opening indicated at 22.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, before assembly of the mirror glass and associated parts within the channeled frame strip, the member 14 is arranged at one of its ends upon the lower end section 13 of the frame; the intermediatel part 15 of said member being engaged against the face of the channel wall 8 and the flange 16 extendin upwardly over the rear flange 7 with the lip 17 rojecting over the edge of said: frame flange or contact with the metal back plate 11. The tongue 19 extends upwardly over the outer side of the front flange 6 of the frame, with its lip projecting inwardly over the edge of said flange,

one half of the width of the tongue 19 extending beyond the end of the frame section 13. Thus, when the two lower end sections 12 and 13 of the frame are brought together as above explained, the end of the section 12 is fitted within the lip 17 and upon the part 16 of said connect-ing member. With said end sections 'of the frame in abutting engagement, the member 14 is properly ositioned to register the openings 21 thereo with the threaded openings 22, and screws such as that indicated at 23 are then inserted. Thus, the abutting ends of the frame strip are securely held together avainst separation, and the connecting member 14 provides the fin r piece or Harige 18 extending downwar ly lll from the frame at a point adjacent the iront iiange 6 thereof. where it may be easily grasped for the purpose of swinging the hinged door mirror to an open position. The attachment is amply secure to enable the necessary pressure to be applied against the nger piece i8 to release the ordinary spring latch with which such cabinet doors are provided, it being unnecessary to secure to the tree edge of the door, a knob or other additional hand pieee for this purpose.

By providing the mirror frame of the construction above described and assembling the mirror and its associated parts within said 'frame in the manner stated, it will he apparent that when the compressing pressure upon the resilient paclring sheet 10 is released, the said sheet will expand to its normal position and yieldably urge the front surface of the mirror glass at its marginal edges into uni-l form fractional contact against the inner surface of the front flange 6 of the frame strip as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, while the edges of the back plate 1l are 1n a similar manner forced rearwardly and frictionally held in Contact with the inner side of the rear liange 7 or" the frame. As the edges of the glass 9 are spaced from the base wall 8.,

of the frame channel, it is therefore, apparent that the glass is yieldably and frictionally confined at its vmarginal edges within said channel. Therefore, such shocks or vibrations to which the framed mirror might be subjected in handling or in shipment will be yieldably cushioned, and possible chi ping or cracking of the mirror glass at its e ges is reduced to a minimum.' From reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the attaching screws 28 for the member 14 are located in alignment with the packing sheet 10 so that these screws cannot, by any possibility come into contact with the edges of the glass. In this manner, it will be appreciated that I have succeeded in producing a novel form of frame structure for such mirrors together with an improved mounting of the mirror glass and a method of framing such mirrors whereby the assemblage of the parts may be greatly expedited to materially facilitate rapid production and a corresponding decrease in manufacturing cost. Obviously, the particular form or shape of the mirror glass and its frame as shown in the drawings, is merely one of an infinite number of ornamental congurations which might be selected. Also, while I preferably provide the member 14 whereby the ends of `the one piece channel strip frame are connected, it will be evident that this member likewise might be made in various other ornamental shapes or forms.

By the elimination of additional mechanical fastening orsecuring means for holding the mirror glass in proper position in the frame, I avoid visible external projections `either upon the face of the mirror or of the l have herein shown and described a preferred practical embodiment of the several novel features of my present disclosure. As above indicated however, such disclosure is susceptible of incorporation in various other alternative mechanical structures, and l therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting l to all such legitimate chauffes therein as may be fairly embodied within t -e spirit and scope oi the invention as claimed.

l claim:

l. A method of framing mirrors which consists in first bending a channel shaped metal strip to form a frame with the channel opening on the inner side thereof and unconnected end sections of the strip extending inwardly from the opposite sides of the r'rame, then assembling a mirror with a back plate and a sheet of packing material interposed between said late and the mirror, then while holding the acking material under compress1on inserting one end and the opposite side edges of the back plate and mirror into the channels of said frame, then bending the opposite sides of the frame inwardly to position said end sections thereof in alignment and engage the other end of the mirror assembly within the channels of said end sections, then rigidly securing said aligned end sections of the strip to each other, and finally releasing the compressing pressure on the mirror assemblage to permit expansion of said yieldable packing material whereby the backing plate and the mirror are urged in opposite directions into frictional contact with the rear and front iianges respectively of the mirror frame.

2. An article of the character ,described including, a mirror, a frame for said mirror consisting of a single channel shaped metal strip having the channel thereof opening inwardly to receive the marginal edges of the mirror, and said frame having the opposite side portions at one end normally diverging laterally away from cach other, and end sections of the strip extending inwardly therefrom and adapted to be disposed in alignment by forcing the divergent side portions of the frame strip into substantially parallel relation and placing the same under tension, and means for rigidly connecting said aligned end sections of the strip to each other.

3. An article of the character described including a frame consisting of a single channel shaped metal strip having the channel thereof opening inwardly and end portions of the strip projecting inwardly from the oplOl lOfi

IBI)

posite sides thereof, a mirror glass, a backing plate for said glass of greater imensons than the latter to project be ond the -mar inal edges thereof, a sheet o yieldable pac g 'material interposed between the bacln'ng plate and the mirror glass and of substantially the same dimensions as the latter, said mirror lass and the assembled backing adapted to be mserted'into the channels of the frame while said material isv under compression, and said end sections of the frame adapted to 'be brought into alignment with each other whereby the base walls of the frame channels are brought into contact with the edges of the backing plate and spaced from the edges of the mirror glass, said packing material adapt- 'ed to urge the backing plate and the mirror glass in opposite directions into frictional contact with the rear and front flanges of the frame respectively, and means rigidly connecting the aligned end sections ofthe frame to each other.

4. An article ofthe character described including a mirror, a frame for said mirrorA consistin of a single channel shaped metal strip having thev channel thereof openin inwardly to receive the marginal edges o the mirror, and said frame having the opposite side portions thereof longitu nally bowed inwardly towards each other, and end sections of the strip extending inwardly therefrom and adapted-to be disposed in ali ment by forcing said curved side portions o the frame strip into substantially parallel relation and placingthe 4same under tension, and means for rigidly connecting said aligned end sections of the strip to each other.:

In testimony that I claim the-.foregoing as my invention, I hamm m name hereto.

Y S L MMER. 

